Finance & Funding

Students could have access to a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at College.

Are you aged 16-18?

If you are aged 16-18, you may be eligible to receive support from the 16-18 Bursary Fund.

Guaranteed Bursary – If you are living in care, or a care leaver, or are receiving income support, or are receiving Employment Support Allowance together with Disability Living Allowance, then you may be eligible to receive a bursary equivalent to £1,200 a year (pro rata).

Discretionary Bursary – this could support you with the costs of transport, meals in college, equipment and materials, trips, course related costs (including CRB checks and visits), sports activities, UCAS fees and travel to interviews/open days, or one off emergency costs.

Please click here to complete a bursary form and return it to the Learner Services department.

For further information about finance and funding support, please call into Learner Services for further information about these and other financial support schemes or telephone 01925 494494.

Are you aged 19+?

If you are aged 19+, you may be eligible to access the 19+ Learner Support Funds.

Hardship – you may be eligible to receive support to help you with the costs of transport, equipment and materials, trips, other course related costs, fees ordomestic emergencies.

Childcare – you may be eligible for help with your childcare costs.

For further information about finance and funding support, please call into Learner Services for further information about these and other financial support schemes or telephone 01925 494494.

Advanced Learning Loans

If you're aged 19 or over (24 or over if your course begins before 1 August 2016) and want to study A Levels, an Access to Higher Education Diploma, or a Level 3 to 6 (Level 3 or 4 only if your course begins before 1 August 2016) Vocational Qualification, you'll need to pay your college or training organisation for the cost of your course.

The Advanced Learner Loan is a government-funded loan to help learners. It's easy to apply for, doesn’t take your household income into account and doesn’t involve a credit check.

Here are some key facts about the loan:

Repayments are linked to what you earn and not how much you borrowed.

You only have to start making repayments when you’ve finished your course and you’re earning over £21,000 a year (which is £404 a week or £1,750 a month). Until then you don’t need to pay back anything, but you can make voluntary repayments at any time.

You pay 9% of the money you earn over £21,000, before tax. For example, if you earn £22,000 a year, your monthly repayment will be £7 a month; and if you earn £35,000 a year, it will be £105 per month.

Interest is charged on a sliding scale between the Retail Price Index (RPI) and RPI +3%, depending on how much you earn.

Advanced Learning Loan Bursary - Also available is an advanced learning loan bursary fund which has been created to support students who are facing financial barriers to participation (non-repayable), eligibility criteria applies.

For further information about Advanced Learning Loans or support applying for a loan, please call into Learner Services for further information about these and other financial support schemes telephone 01925 494494.

The Guidance and Welfare Team

The Guidance and Welfare team can talk to you about benefits issues, bursaries, Learner Support Fund (LSF) or any other financial concerns you are experiencing. Please do not wait until it becomes unmanageable. This service is confidential.

Examples of financial support available includes:

Child Benefit – if you are in full time further education, this will continue to be paid until your twentieth birthday.

Childcare support – this can be accessed via the College Learner Support Funds for students over 19 years, or government schemes such as Care to Learn for students under 19 years.